Weekend Small Animal Vet

When Bishopton Vets first opened its doors in 1943, we were a small practice serving rural North Yorkshire. Fast forward 80+ years, and we’re now one of the region’s largest independent practices – but our heart hasn’t changed. We remain rooted in our community, guided by our values, and proud to be independently owned and run.

Our RCVS-accredited veterinary hospital in Ripon serves as the central hub for our farm and pig team, and provides 24/7 emergency care for pet owners. Supported by four welcoming branch surgeries in Thirsk, Northallerton, Easingwold, and Pateley Bridge, the hospital also offers advanced referral services, including orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery, ultrasound, cardiology, ophthalmology, and laparoscopy.

Our team brings together Advanced Practitioners, RVNs, student nurses, and our support staff – all working together to deliver exceptional veterinary care while maintaining that down-to-earth Yorkshire spirit.

In our small animal department, we are proud to be an ISFM Cat Friendly Clinic and Zero Pain accredited, reflecting our commitment to excellence, comfort, and the highest standards of care for every patient.

We know that the ideal weekend role can look different for everyone, so we’re happy to be flexible. Whether you can offer one weekend a month, regular Saturdays or Sundays, or more frequent weekend hours, we’d love to hear from you. Whatever you can offer, it will make a valuable difference to our team and help support our rota.

If you’re looking for variety, teamwork and the chance to grow clinically while enjoying a great quality of life outside work, you’ll fit right in here.

Some post-graduate experience would be ideal, but what matters most is passion, motivation and a desire to develop in a supportive, forward-thinking practice.

• 31 days holiday including bank holidays (pro-rata)

 

• Salary dependant on experience
• CPD: Annual allowance of £2,000 (or £2,500 if AP) + 5 days (pro rata), with certificates encouraged & supported
• Professional fees paid for RCVS, VDS, BVA, plus one other membership
• Access to private medical insurance & medical cash plan
• Pension scheme – the 'People’s Pension’ (5% employee and 3% employer contributions)
• Perkbox rewards, recognition and discounts
• Wellbeing initiatives, including access to an Employee Assistance Programme
• Team pet discount scheme
• One paid volunteering day per year
• Cycle to Work scheme
• And above all, a truly supportive and social team

Culture & community

Life at Bishopton isn’t all work; we know how to have fun too. From Bishy Bingo nights, quiz evenings and bowling trips, to charity runs and craft clubs, there’s always something going on. Each summer, we join Ripon’s St Wilfrid’s Procession, where the team picks a theme, designs a float, and gets creative with costumes (yes, we’ve been pirates and Oompa Loompas!). Many of our team have been with us for years because here, you’re not just part of a workplace, you’re part of a community.

Being independently owned gives us the freedom to make decisions together as a team, shaping our practice to benefit patients, clients, and colleagues alike. It also means when something tough comes through the door – like an emergency RTA with limited funds – the whole team pulls together, with no hesitation about “who’s paying.” It’s simply about doing the right thing.

We are proud members of XLVets – a nationwide network of independently-owned, progressive practices that work together to share expertise, improve standards, and support their teams.

If this sounds like the kind of place where you’d thrive, we’d love to hear from you. Call us for an informal chat or send your CV to Sam Milner at careers@bishoptonvets.co.uk